Reviews (page 6 of 8)
Dark and fun 80’s pop/rock
In the words of the great John Prine, "Pretty good, not bad, I can't complain." Nothing spectacular either though, kind of flowed in one ear and out the other. 3 stars.
Not bad. Some jangly, riff driven guitar, nice vocal melodies, and grand, cinematic instrumentals. Second half stood out to me. Unfortunately just a little forgettable. Worth revisiting to see if it grows on me
I like these guys but this isn't as good as I remember
I was not really into this. It was fine, but I didn't think it was good.
Un mood tipo epico, ma declinato al pop. Tutto sommato piacevole
Ehhh not bad but not great. Definitely had some epically dramatic songs, but nothing that really caught my ear. Def hear them as a U2 contemporary in the 80s.
a few great songs, but album gets bogged down. i'm glad they exist, but would rather just listen to the cure.
I come back to Echo a lot thinking I will like them more, but always get kind of bored. They are certainly a high quality band that made some excellent songs, but I’m not convinced this is classic.
2.5
Since I am a sucker for post-punk music I was excited to listen to this. I looked at the cover art and thought it was meh, and sure enough the music was pretty meh.
There's some music which stands out here, but also an awful lot which blends into the background
this album flips between banger and bizarre and it’s great! the goofy songs work even though they’re not particularly striking they fit well. best tracks: nocturnal me, killing moon, seven seas
And here we have another anonymous post-punk from the land of post-punk bands and music. Echo and the Bunnymen is an okay group - they aren't original or special, just rather solid in what they are doing. Some melodies on song like "Ocean Rain" or "Silver" are genuinely good and melancholic. Vocal is also better, a little less whiny than in other bands. But as a summary, there is nothing special in this album. Putting it on a list like that might be a really big stretch. It kind of waters down the whole experience. Well, nice album, but not something I would include on a list of best anything. 1001 most solid albums of all time.
There’s a reason I only knew The Killing Moon. After listening to the whole album, I know why. Still, I love The Killing Moon.
'Killing Moon' is amazing and stand out. The rest of the album, less so. A little more diverse than I expected but still very English new wave.
Didn't enjoy the droning at time Some tracks leaned a little more on the rock side and reminded me of the Tragically Hip who were forming in Canada the same year as this release Not as enjoyable as some of the other new wave records on this list
It is a bit too depressing for my taste. Songs about collecting the bones of friends, or others that think they are vegetables - really not too uplifting is it. If you find black moods appealing then this is your album. Musically it is well constructed, the vocals are clear and tuneful, the only problem is the mood.
Not my cup of tea. Как будто такая немного театральная музыка, такое что-то странное, что играет перед антрактом иди в кульминацию 😁 Голос такой звонкий, надрывный, драматичный.
Ну... Если бы я играл с этим альбомом в мафию, то он был бы серым. Есть пару интересных моментов, в основном вообще нейтральное. Не плохо, но и не впечатлил. 3-
Has that one song
favorite tracks - silver, the killing moon, seven seas, my kingdom, ocean rain least favorite tracks - nocturnal me
Ganska schysst pop.
Yeh I enjoyed that. Feels familiar when though I don't know them. Sway worthy
Pretty good dark UK rock. I think it would keep growing on me if I listened a few times
Not so my thing but nice enough to listen to
This album starts off on a high note, showcasing all that the band has to offer. Glamorous, poppy, dream-like sounds combined with the moody and emotional vocals over top. As well as the orchestra that mirrors every part and feeling. There is also a very bombastic, over-the-top feeling that suits the dramatic sound of the band very well. The lyrics are very well written, but at times feel like just words that sound good with each-other, as opposed to lyrics with actual meaning. This normally doesn't matter much to me, but with the impactful feeling that you get with the other parts of the composition, it does suffer a bit. I don't normally like comparing artists or albums to other artists or albums, but I do recognize a big Doors/Jim Morrison influence, especially on the song Thorn of Crowns. The last song on the album, Ocean Rain was a solid closer that does a good job of wrapping things up, and making the album feel very concise. The last two songs on the album seem to match the energy of the opening two songs, creating a sort of overarching arc. Overall, this album was great, and felt very consistent in quality. Favourite song: Killing Moon (obviously) Least favourite song: Thorn of Crowns (I feel like it may grow on me though.)
More of a stereotypical ‘80s sound compared to Crocodiles, by which I mean less along the lines of synth pop, and more grandiose, lots of orchestral stings, etc. A Bigger sound that I think benefits them
Faded into the background
not bad at all
Classic 80's English Punk mixed with haunting strings and echos. It feels comfortable and all together wholly different. I enjoyed the listen, and the artistry involved, but I don't think I'd go out of my way to listen to it again.
Album was decent. Nothing terribly interesting to me, but it was an enjoyable listen. Favorite track: Thorn of Crowns
I didn’t really give this a fair listen but what I heard was OK, not outstanding so a fair or unfair 3*
Dreary but good
It's cool but forgettable
This seemed like a demo tape for what would become a concept album and then that didn’t happen. The hit songs are great, but a lot of this is not for me. Not really sure why it’s here.
Pretty decent, I enjoyed it.
I like but don't love this album. Some of the tracks are really solid, 'The Killing Moon' in particular is one I've known and liked for a long time. Not an album I think I'd ever find myself adding into regular rotation but if these songs came on, I wouldn't turn it off either. Standout Tracks: Silver, Crystal Days, The Killing Moon, My Kingdom
The Killing Moon is a sensational song. The rest of the album is also worth a listen.
I really like Ian McCullough's voice and the overall alt rock vibe of their music. Silver, Crystal Days, Seven Seas and Killing Moon are strong. Most of the rest is meh, though Thorn of Crowns is definitely a pass. Pretty enjoyable but it's missing a bit of catchiness to push it higher.
eliza would like
Another very clean 3/5, not a yay and not a boo
As always, this was fine
Great record and listened to this a lot ! Paved the way for alot of good alternative bands. And I like the use of the orchestra too!
So happy this was my album today!
Sounds a bit like the Doors.... Forgettable
Niet slechte indierock, maar iets te langzaam/zacht. 3*
-"Thorn of Crowns" is a great series of buildups to a crescendo -The other songs were just okay -A very plain pink album, honestly bordering on 2
This is a lovely album, but it's so flat. I almost thought that I was listening to a long 40 minutes song. Not bad, but the only remark is its flatness, so 3 stars are enough
The Killing Moon is a great song. The rest of this album is decent, but doesn't come close to that song. It reminds me of The Cure, which is why I like it so much.
weirdly feels like the smiths and the doors had a kid. high 3
Not bad. The killing moon is pretty good. The rest is decent with some interesting sounds, but nothing show-stopping
Nocturnal Me var meget god, resten var meget... britisk?!
Perfect atmosphere going into fall. Killing Moon is awesome, rest of album is fairly standard goth-tinted new wave.
Nice easy listening
Almost a 4...
Ok, but mostly for the Donnie Darko single
A so-so album with not much going on, and then BOOM, The Killing Moon enters the frame. And suddenly the inclusion of this album kinda makes sense. One track shouldn't be an album-maker, and while there's some other good tracks here, but nothing stands out like The Killing Moon.
Some good songs, some bland songs. Honestly, with this list, I think I'm getting a little oversaturated with post punk. It's making it hard to judge them fairly.
Suffers from 80s syndrome hard. I enjoy individual tracks, but the whole is a lot to consume at once. That being said, it is lean, which does bump it safely in the middle.
Didn’t blow me away. Didn’t hate it, but didn’t hear anything special personally.
Good 80s New Wave. Made me think of the Purple Stuff Podcast!
Zwischen 3 und 4. 3 weil es eher mittelgute Echo&theBunnyman Songs sind. "Killing Moon" hat aber eigentlich 5 verdient. Ich gebe 3. "Heaven up here" hätte was zwischen 4 und 5 verdient und sollte in dieser Liste enthalten sein.
Would give this a 2.5, but given our 5 star scale it deserves a 3, despite it not being an album I'd add to my rotation
Ok 7/10
This was pretty great! I'd heard the one song from Donnie Darko but the rest of it held up and more. Would definitely explore this band more.
Me ha parecido un poco monótono, salvo alguna canción muy concreta (de hecho, creo que dos, la primera y la última), pero es posible que estuviera con la mente ocupada en otras cosas.
Interesting sound, would like to hear again.
Pretty good, but unfortunately just another British band that fails to distinguish itself. I will not remember this album if my life depended on it.
I want to like this more than I do. More listening perhaps...it reminds me of more than itself and tells a tale, need to swim with this a bit more than one listen.
Killing moon will always be a favorite of mine but there aren't a ton of other great tracks here
2.7 - atmospheric and interesting, especially with the use of the orchestra - but not something I’ll come back to often. Killing Moon is a classic and I enjoyed Silver, too.
Was unfamiliar with this band and album but it was definitely something I would listen to again!
Solid album, I enjoyed most of it except a few tracks.
Ooff, are Echo and the Bunnymen possibly the most overrated band of all time? Certainly if you listen to how they describe themselves ('the greatest album of all time!"), they could never possibly live up to the hype. Obviously, 1001 albums love them, as there are three (THREE!) of their albums on this list, of which this is probably the best. Orchestral arrangements that walk the tightrope, staying just on the right side of bombastic. The lyrics are not nearly as clever as Ian McCullough thinks they are, which makes them the Doors on the 1980s. And they have dated about as well (ie, they have a shrinking fanbase that agree that they are all that, but the rest of the world shrugs). That said, Killing Moon is a real cracker of a song, distinctive, spooky, soaring, and side two of the original vinyl is generally pretty damn good. But not as good as they think they are.
The central piece of the album is obviously The Killing Moon. I could sense some Jim Morisson kind of vibes in some of the delivery. Overall a decent album but nothing exceptional
Average Brit sounds
pretty good, not stellar
A couple of good songs on here including The Killing Moon which I know I've heard from multiple things. Interesting album but nothing to write home about.
3.0 - Besides a stretch of three songs on side B (“The Killing Moon”, “Seven Seas”, “My Kingdom”), this record feels underrealized. The mix on the other songs, with the instruments placed way in the back, mostly sounds wispy.
Well well well Let's hear it For the boys
Bit too hippyish for me
Hmmm. This album started out not really doing anything for me, but 'Crystal Days' got my attention. I feel like it should have been the beginning of the album; it feels like there's life to the song. A lot of the other songs just feel deadened. They're haunting, but at times there doesn't feel like a point behind them or much emotion. I don't know if I just can't relate to the main singer's voice, or what. It wasn't terrible, but it's not something I would probably seek out again.
It's alright. A little overrated in the post-punk scene but it's still pretty good. The Killing Moon is obviously a classic. 6-7/10
Apparently some people think this is an influential record. I don't (6/10) FT: Nocturnal Me, The Killing Moon
Nice!
Some really good tunes and some fillers. I liked them at the time, but I don’t think they ever did an album full of great tunes.
um dia essa banda ainda clica direito
Rock
Interesting classical/punk-new wave, not what I was expecting, but worth a listen.
Indies 80s fan. But never pursued Echo etc , this album has the 2 best tracks they recorded. Cover art 3/5
A couple of really good songs on this, but some of this album dragged a little
I liked this more than I remember liking this band. There are some really nice melodies and songs here, and it's all full of a dark atmosphere. I think my mood has become more Echo & The Bunnymen as I've aged, I was in the wrong mood when it first came out.
Jäi sellanen fiilis, et tää vois olla toisessa ulottuvuudessa U2, mut tässä maailmassa samanlaisiin hitteihin eivät ainakaan tällä levyllä pystyneet. Mut siis hyvä levy
A solid, but not spectacular piece of ‘80s alternative. Enjoyable, manic and overall a worthwhile endeavor for fans looking to dig into all that the ‘80s can offer from a rock perspective.
I'll get my long coat...
Pretty boring. To me.
Wait, there are two Echo & the Bunnymen albums on this list? Why? Seriously, why? I guess this one will be rated moderately higher for having The Killing Moon on it, but I don't even remember what the other one sounded like. Outside of their one hit, this band was an entirely forgettable new wave act. Not worthy of being on a list of essential albums.
It was ok, nice to passively listen to 5.5/10
bretty nice
Killing moon och Nocturnal me är så satans bra. Inte helt tagen av resten av plattan, men en stark 3:a iaf
A few great songs but several songs are rubbish. On the strength of the fmgreat songs
Wasn't that bad. Probably something I wouldn't listen to all the time though
This album in particular reminded me a lot of Jim Morrison's dreamy, distant, psychedelic vocals. I had either never noticed that before, or it is a sound they moved away from in later albums. The Killing Moon, a known hit of theirs, was the standout track on this album. I loved the eastern strings that permeate the track. Additionally, this track leans a little more into the goth rock and new wave space than others on the album and hits a sweet spot for me there. Otherwise, the album was okay. I liked what I heard just fine, but overall didn't personally find any other standout qualities; it was kind of a "one note" album for me.
I dig it. Mostly Killing Moon
Pretty good stuff! Not something I'd listen to regularly but good for a particular mood.
After finishing the album I realized I didn't even notice the album was over. I don't think I could remember a single song that stood out. It was just perfectly fine middle of the road stuff.
silver raven goes hard
Its good but a little too moody for my taste
for the killing moon
Had to restart it like 3 times so I was loosing hope but this is really good. This is the kind of 80’s production that is worth the listen, very little synths and shit, i like that killing moon very much
I feel like I liked these guys better when I was in high school. Loved their version of people are strange.
Nice chill album of indie/jingle rock. At first I thought it would be a rather dark and theatrical album, but the second half is classic alternative. The lyrics are pretty fun to read along with as well. 6/10
1 very iconic song, and a very 80s album
Wasn't bad - nothing caught my attention though.
Ekat pari biisiä oli ihan jees tarttuvia, loput mukiinmeneviä, paitsi Thorn of Crowns.
This album was one note. It was fine for background music but not more than that.
3/5
A pleasant album with a lot of cool sounds. It does feel a bit ahead of the curve for 1984 while still having some of that quintessential 80s new wave sound. I really enjoyed the breakdown near the end of Thorn of Crowns, and the chord progression in the chorus of The Killing Moon. Favourite Tracks: The Killing Moon, Thorn of Crowns
Okay
An all right listen, didn't overly grab me. Nocturnal Me is an unequivocal Ghost song in my head, it jarred me when it started to play! The Bunnymen get an extra star for that track.
Not my taste.
It's ok, nice background music.
Worth it just for The Killing Moon alone
Alright. Killing moon absolute favourite of the album. Did listen after vomming my ring out, Saturday morning. Big night Friday gorged on Uber Eats. Regret nothing.
*New Wave/Alternative? *Nice strings in the first track *Clean sounding guitars *Original Nocturnal Me? *Kind of a gothic vibe *Reminds me a little of Talking Heads and some Interpol
Carino ma non mi fa impazzire.
11/10/21
If you were told to go and write a song that sounded like Echo and the Bunnymen then this is the first thing that would come into your head. You know what you're getting.
Cool calm collected.
All at sea again And now my album generator has brought down this Ocean Rain To bathe me again In some Smiths-esque, sometimes acoustic, haunting rock Can you hear its tender frame Sounding from beneath the waves Sounding from beneath the waves
Highlights: The Killing Moon, My Kingdom Lowlights: Ocean Rain
Alright 80s rock album. The style makes it feel like a 60s folk with 80s sound. The killing moon is a good song. All the others are pretty similar but not as good. 5.6/10
I was torn on this - the highs are really high, with lots of great creative and original sounds and harmonies, but at its low points it does feel a bit self-consciously kooky, as though being out-there is more important that being good. Worth a few listens and with a few tracks that are timeless, but it's got its flaws
Great songs are great, weird songs are annoying
I feel like if I was a gay, into theater, came of age in the 80s and loved Tolkien then I would have loved this album. It was alright
Solid album. Some pretty good tunes but can get repetitive at times
Jangly and fun. Easy to listen to.
Post-punk is weird.
These guys are really underappreciated in my opinion. Super consistent and tight band. The Killing Moon is a CLASSIC song.
Not bad. Crystal Days made me think of the smiths (but with a decent singer) and thorn of crowns reminded me of David Byrne and the doors at the end.
Get points for originality, and McCulloch’s voice. Couple solid tracks.
Good not great.
Listened to the album for the first time. Goth-y type of feel, definitely an 80s Cure-ish vibe, but just not for me.
I know I've heard this band's name before, but I've never deliberately listened to any of their albums. Not a bad listen overall! Found myself reaching for the Skip button on Track 2 (Nocturnal Me) and Track 5 (Thorn of Crowns), but decided to play this "1001 Albums" game fair and listen all the way through the complete album. Favorite tracks include "Silver", "Crystal Days", "The Killing Moon", and "My Kingdom". Made me feel some nostalgia for early 80s MTV and the New Wave invasion., but there's also a pretty strong indie/college radio rock feel to this album.
The album moved quickly - it was over before I even realized I had been listening. I had to listen again because I couldn't remember what had gone on. Overall, I'd say it's an uneven album. Silver was a nice leadoff and had me thinking I knew that track or other ones - but couldn't quite place it. The Killing Moon is their signature track but I found it a bit boring. Ultimately, it was all a little too similar and without enough buzz. Decent 80's rock and you can see how it fits in with the Cure and the Smiths, just not quite as good.
Its good, and inspired at points. That being said not very memorable
I've heard a few different styles through the first half of the album... driving and almost uplifting for a moment (with a tone like Styx does sometimes), then weird and ethereal
sad I didn't like it more bc I love The Killing Moon so much.
Poetric lyrics and unsettling sound that reminds me of The Doors. Some highlights. Some forgettable and overdramatic reminiscent of 80s music in general.
well made album, but I found it kind of boring/repetitive
Nice album. Has some really good tracks, some mediocre ones. Overall, a liked it
So I like this album. But it isn't that memorable, and I don't feel the urge to listen to it again really.
Rating: 6/10 Best songs: Nocturnal me
Good stuff
Good, chill, Saturday afternoon listen for hanging in the garden. 70s
Very fun listen.Kind of varies track by track but good driving alone music
Solidan albumčić, neke pjesme bezvremenski bengeri, neke malo iritiraju, jebiga. Tri i po moj te pipo.
Only good songs are Killing Moon and Ocean Rain. That's all I have to say.
This singer kind of sounds like Bono. I wonder if they influenced U2 at all.
It was fine to listen to, but very unexciting. Almost none of the songs really stood out in any way. Just The Killing Moon and Seven Seas a little bit and the rest was just low attention pleasant background sound.
Hmmm. I know Mike loves it, but it sounded exactly how I thought it would... Maybe a grower.
3/5 Pretty unrememberable stuff, but goodish melancholic sounds...
De ene dag kijk je uit naar The Who en dat valt tegen en dan luister je met frisse tegenzin naar Echo en dan is dat ineens prima te pruimen.
Best aardig, maar heel warm werd ik er ook niet van!
I don't feel like writing
No está mal. No me enloqueció tampoco.
3.75, good album, terrible beatles cover
‘Take me internally’. This guy is a smooth operator. I get the feeling this album was recorded in the album sequence, with the singer holding back at the start then unleashing a bit toward the end with 10 beers under his belt. Thorn of Crowns a bit more interesting than the bulk of the album More enjoyable after a few listens over the weekend- probably something the Friday albums will benefit from. C-c-c-cucumber C-c-c-cabbage C-c-c-cauliflower Men on Mars April showers
Way better than the other Echo album from a few weeks back. This sounds like A House, but it’s not as good as A House. If you hate new wave, I’m coming to realize this list isn’t for you.
C’est bon et ca s’ecoute bien. 3.25*
Solid calm rock, but it's really worth listening to just to hear the pronunciation of "tortoise" on "Seven Seas"
Sounds a bit like Bowie but otherwise not that memorable
Hatte ich schon in Parallelliste und kann mich nicht dran erinnern, also kanns ned mega geil gewesen sein.
3
I quite liked it. Started picking up at The Killing Moon and Seven Seas. "Kissin the tort-toice yeah!"
Smiths and XTC. Cool stuff
Nocturnal Me is a song I've heard before. Pretty chill. I would listen to it again.
Only listed to first half
Solid, strong album of mid-80s UK slash college rock. 3.5.
false
Ok...not my favorite
Heh, I know "The Killing Mood" but I actually thought that was a recent indie band's song. That song aged pretty well, I like it. There are some interesting instrumental ideas across the rest of the songs, but in general the vocals completely ruin it for me, it's all the bad parts of Bono and U2. Still, this whole album is pretty interesting for the time it came out. A bit unconventional 80s. Some of the guitars feel very Pink Floyd inspired. I'd personally prob rate it a 2.5 but I'll round up.
It was pretty good. I don't have strong feelings about this one. Good 80s tunes.
Nothing too standout.
Better than expected.
A little too new wave for me
British rock vibes, not too bad, but not my favorite.
Pretty Okay!
I liked 4/9 songs, rating 2.75/5
Nice, they play donnie darko theme
Nothing much going on here, to be honest. A decent attempt at an early-Bowie-esqe take on post-punk music. I didn't hate it but it sure didn't have much of note to recommend it.
I think I enjoyed it, but not as much as some of their contemporaries.
heard killing moon a hundred times but the rest of the album is pretty good too, kinda slightly gloomy gen x nonsense, like a radio-friendly sisters of mercy. 3/5.
Ah some 80s synth pop. Oh, going for a weird vibe eh? Man this is fairly high on the weird 80s scale. Meh, these bunnymen should've stayed away from the echoes.
Heard it before. Nocturnal Me and The Killing Moon are fantastic songs. But I'm afraid the rest of the album ain't it. Ian's vocals just don't work for me on other songs on the album, they don't fit the music. Echo were always one of those 80s bands I could never get fully into 2/5
Beyond Killing Moon do you really need to listen to this Jim Morrison wannabe?
didn't care too much about it Will I listen to again: 5%
The Killing Moon stands out. Apparently that's all I have to say about this album. My 2nd of Echo and the Bunnymen; this one is a 2. Post-punk? I didn't get any whiffs of punk in this.
It has some decent instrument but lyrically it ain't it 3.4/10
While this album has some good tracks, it ultimately makes you lose interest before the end.
I’ve tried to listen to them a few times and it’s just not my thing
incel Bowie rip offs
Liked the instrumentals but didn’t love the lead singer’s voice. It was kind of creepy. The album sounds like it could have potential but it didn’t grab me
Interesting, this album for sure has it's moments and one outstanding single, but overall it's the musical equivalent of using 100 words when you could manage with 10. Perhaps it's the production (vocal really high in the mix) but really not feeling it, it makes 37mins feel like 2 hours.
Could use a singer.
Enjoyed 1 song, the rest was pretty basic
Something about this album really irks me. The production is weird, it almost sounds like they’re going for a doors-y vibe at some points but it just doesn’t work. Obviously the killing moon is a good song though
I know I'm supposed to like Echo and the Bunnymen but I really am not a fan. So sorry.
★★½
Echo & The Bunnymen again? Kind of overrated at this point. Ocean Rain is their fourth studio album and their third one on this ridiculous list. I wish I could find a replacement list to going the journey. The album was released in 1984 so it had a lot of competition for attention. I might have stated it in the early reviews of their albums, but I find Ian McCulloch bit bland compared to the other English singers during this time period. It was released to mixed reviews. I just remembered who liked them in my life. It was in the 90s, I had a friend named John and he liked them a lot. John turned out to be a bad friend and so was one of his favourite bands. He was extremely deceitful. The best song is the title song, but even that is not going on my list. My opinion on this album is quite simple. It drones on and on. His vocals sound the same on each song. Do yourself a favour and listen to "Bring on the Dancing Horses" or even "Lips Like Sugar". This is what they could have been. This album is pictured in the dictionary under mediocrity. Look it up. 5/10.
Its a rock style that is not related with my liking
Classic 80s nostalgia. Still one or two tracks that I love, sadly the rest of the album feels dated and a bit average.
Just can’t get into that 80s production.
Saved? ✅ Would listen again? 🤔 Would recommend to anyone? 🤔 Would buy on Vinyl? 🤔
not for me
fav songs: silver the killing moon distant, atmospheric, moody 40/100
It started out fine, but lacked range. Besides that one song that I vaguely know, I think this was just rather boring.
I think I need to try and listen again later when I'm chill or stoned or something. Cause my impression of the first listen was that the name was more interesting than the album... I found it a bit boring. Some tracks were kinda interesting, but overall it was just kinda there...
Hmm... Reminds of Morrissey. Pretty boring
Good but won’t revisit
2 sterne
😐
It's rare for a rock album to make the lead vocals the centerpiece as often as this one does. There are some nice instrumentals here - "Crystal Days" has satisfying clattering drums and there are some scratchy guitars I like. But when Ian McCulloch is singing everything goes quiet: the guitars are fainter, the drums are sometimes imperceptible, and a nocturnal ambience prevails. If the lyrics were so impactful as to carry the songs this would make sense. But McCulloch doesn't quite have that presence, despite the frequent Jim Morrison comparisons. "Killing Moon" stands out as a fuller post punk song, but all too often songs stick to jangly acoustic guitar and thumping bass. While the vocals are strong, they don't quite fill the gaps this seems to have.
5/10 - nice background music, something you would hear on Radio 2
It’s not so offensively bad as to deserve 1 star, but I have no idea why someone would want to listen to this album.
I'm only using these words to convey my sentiments on this album because it's a British group, but the fact that they're British doesn't impact my thinking on this. But this is music for pretentious wankers.
Just okay
mid
not that bad
2.0
Not bad, but not for me.
This is aggressively mediocre. It would have gotten an additional star or two if a competent lyricist was involved. It sounds like the lyrics were outsourced to a teen in their "I'm profound and special" stage. Delivery of said lyrics wasn't reprehensible, however. I dig the Lizard King vibes on Thorn of Crowns. Still, better as an instrumental album for me
This was a chore
meh kinda generic
not mi vibe
I know very little of this album beyond The Killing Moon so I was excited to dig in deeper, but in the end this record didn't grab me at all. I was hoping for somber, haunting tracks, but the mood was unpredictable, the guitar was light and felt detached from the rest of the songs, and the vocals seemed worse. Not for me I guess.
Mwa, zaten vage nummers tussen
More enjoyable than I thought, but also totally unmemorable. I only listened to the album about an hour ago and no song or melodies are lingering.
Ganske greit, ikke heeelt min greie. 2/5
Aside from The Killing Moon and maybe Silver I really didn't get a whole lot out of Ocean Rain. The general sound is good but nothing to entice more than your run-of-the-mill Post-Punk record. Most tracks just kind of linger and don't really have anything to them compositionally. The melodies aren't catchy or memorable, each track just kind of feeling like a sparkly shroud of emptiness masquerading as some deep mysterious experience. The only track that effectively uses its gloomy atmosphere is The Killing Moon, which is certainly the track that the majority of people know Echo & The Bunnymen for. Silver is a fun enough song as well, but certainly not revolutionary. The rest is just really hard for me to appreciate; the production isn't bad the lyrics and vocals on some tracks definitely are. McCulloch is not a bad vocalist by any means, but the way he chooses to use his voice on tracks like Thorn of Crowns just doesn't do it for me. If their goal was for certain tracks to make you uncomfortable, then pull a switcheroo into an upbeat Jangle-Pop song, they certainly accomplished it. I think the songs are just too structureless. You can make a gloomy album that doesn't follow traditional Pop compositions, but with the absence of catchy choruses and fun melodies there needs to be something to latch onto. The Killing Moon is alright, but I'll probably skip the rest most days of the week.
Meh.
It's not the worst thing I've ever heard, but it was an unexceptional album with a vibe that doesn't work for me. Bummer; I kinda liked the other Echo album on this list. 2.2
NO
*looks at the photographer for the cover art* It... it can't be
2.5
I didnt really get the lyrics Bit messy in the begginujg Mid singing Killing moon and seven seas was good
dreamy playful postpunk. for me too bland and playful, going nowhere
First time listening to this band and a little disappointed I’m not more engaged, despite their reputation. Singer sounds like a combo of a lesser Bono meets Jim Morrison. Some of the guitar work is interesting and atmosphere is unique enough but the songs are pretty boring. Maybe if I was an emo teen in rainy 80’s England I’d feel differently. Or maybe they just have a memorable name. Favorite song: Seven Seas
Quite nondescript. Some doors influences I appreciate but otherwise not too bothered with this
nothing really did it for me.
Boring
Lot of 5 star rating in the reviews. But I'm not a fan. It was okay, but not going on my playlist.
Too boring and too 80s.
Kind of that "awesome idea" you had the other night that turned out to be not so great once you got sober.
Hat mich nicht gekriegt.
Not a huge fan, this must be how people who say they don’t like U2 feel about U2
Killing Moon! I say goddamn, what a tune! Everything else not so much.
Still a great band name
I understand why this worked in 1984 but it did not work for me in 2025
that one familiar song is good but i dunno, not too fond of echo or the bunnymen
I dont get all the 5 stars this is getting. It felt extremely generic to me, the type of music I have heard a dozen times on this list.
I've given this band a chance a number of times back in the day, since on paper they should be something I'd enjoy a fair bit. Never "clicked" for me though but since that HAS happened with some bands in the past, I was excited to see if I'd finally "get" this band this time around. Sadly, it still didn't happen. I don't really know what it is. No melodies that'd give me the chills, no grooves or rhythms that'd get me going, singing and lyrics feeling bland too. I'd almost want to like it more, but that just... didn't happen. Such a shame.
Nope. J'aime pas ce style de rock, mélodie en majeur avec ce rythme entêtant et le timbre over-chanté / drama, + quand il y a eu les violons dans les aigus dès le premier son, le seum un peu. D’autres sons pas loin d’être plus ma came, genre il y a des choses que j’ai trouvé vraiment cool et intéressant dans la composition du Noctural Me, The Yoyo-Man et même un peu My Kingdom (les différentes parties vocales en simultané ou légèrement canon, le piano, la rythmique et la manière dont la guitare répond au chant, ça faisait des layers assez harmonieuses et singulières). Mais ça sonne pas hyper abouti je trouve, avec pas mal de répétitions par ailleurs, et la plupart des sons m'ont bien pris la tête donc je lâche mon 2.
beaucoup d'efforts de variation au sein des morceaux, qui ne se reflète pas entre morceaux ceci dit. je ne suis pas convaincue par le ton larmoyant de certaines paroles (ce qui semble être une caractéristique commune à ce type de rock: une voix un peu traînante et suppliante qui me sort un peu de l'écoute par moments). je comprends pourquoi Killing Moon a eu autant de succès, avec cette guitare qui vient ajouter un peu de groove. mais je dois avouer être restée un peu neutre vis-à-vis du reste des titres. un bon album mais sans plus pour moi. un 2.5 arrondi.
it hangs around for too long and i'm left waiting for more
Echo and the Bunnymen är ett av många band som jag bara läst om men aldrig tagit mig tid till att lyssna på. I grunden tycker jag att här finns flera bra låtar med influenser eller referenser till Nick Cave, the cure och the Smiths. Men oj, vad det låter illa m produktionen. Sången är så högt mixad att inget annat hörs. I hörlurar fungerar det nästanmok, men från högtalarna låter det riktigt illa. Det här hade kanske kunnat sniffat på en fyra men nu landar det på knappt godkänt.
Couple of good songs
The Killing Moon is a great song but the rest of the album I fortunately doesn’t have anywhere near the same impact.
An English new wave/post-punk album on the list? No way. About 1/3 of the way through, this is one of at least 10 such albums I allegedly must listen to. I'm over it. The gimmick is the symphony, and Echo honestly does a decent job with it. The symphony is a nice complementary piece to Echo's music. But Metallica's S&M better be on this list. That's how a band makes a record with a symphony. Equal parts partnership and battle. S&M is the exemplar that deserves inclusion.
65
I'm not sure I love the tinny vocals on a lot of the tracks that are common for that genre in the 80s. The Yo Yo Man is a bop though.
Hopefully this is the last time I ever have to listen to this dull dull band
This was pretty awful except for Killing Moon. Droney and kind of a Smiths clone.
Tolle töne aber insgesamt zu langweilig
*1984. *37 minutes. *I thought I'd be biased because I like Echo & The Bunnymen... but this was a pretty dull album... *Killing Moon is the only song I knew on here. *It tried to be slow and haunting, but most tracks didn't quite hit. RATING - 6.5/10
This album has moments, particularly The Killing Moon, but it's mostly not my thing.
Huh. "The Killing Moon" is a great song and there were a few other highlights but a lot of this just slid off my brain. I think I could have used a lot more hooks?
Tiresome, tinny, irritating. I guess I just wasn't in the mood.
Na
Not excited by this. Started and ended well but the middle was uninspiring. Also, the cucumber, cauliflower, cabbage thing? What the actual?
I like one song on this album
This album annoyed me. Just irritating nonsense. It’s pretty well reviewed so it must be my issue! Probably the worst album cover I’ve seen for a while?
I usually really like dark post punk brit groups but this album was not to my liking...
dull but inoffensive.
Songwriting is great, everything else felt lackluster. The inconsistent recording quality doesn’t help, but the orchestra often felt underutilized. Vocals your classic 80s toneless britpop. Listened to: walking on the high line. Favorite tracks: Thorn of Crowns, Ocean Rain
Generally I don’t care for post-punk bands out of Britain in the eighties. They just sound too whiney. This is much the same, only slightly less so.
Nothing particularly bad about this album, but I didn't connect with it.
Better than the other album I listen to from them but something about it just didn’t hit with me.
Same. 80's. But not in a good way
Hard work. Killing Moon and Seven Seas aside, juddering tunes and vocals...
Outside of a few standout tracks (namely the classic, "The Killing Moon"), there wasn't much here for me.
Boring
The Killing Moon is certainly an essential song, but outside of that song this is just standard 80's fare that isn't notable.
I found this album to be pretty bland and uninspired. At first, I found the Baroque influence to be intriguing, but it went away pretty quickly as I realized I did not like the vocals on these tracks. I couldn’t take the lyrics seriously and the backing track was just okay.
This is like The Smiths if they didn’t have Morrissey, and I thought that would be a plus, but it’s not really. The voice is slightly less annoying (and of course Morrissey the person isn’t there thankfully) but it feels similarly whiney, dull, and uninspired. “Thorn of Crowns” is the worst song on the album, and “The Killing Moon” and “My Kingdom” are the only moderately tolerable songs. Not excited for the rest of their albums on the list.
só presta killing moon
The Killing Moon does an awful lot of heavy lifting on this album. I found the rest of the tracks quite dull. Not my favourite genre at the best of times, but the music just felt overly soppy and uninteresting and the singer’s voice came across was screachy in too many places. New Wave just isn’t for me.
If learning music by numbers was a thing. This is what I imagine it sounds like.
one good song